Caterpillar-tractor.



mama May 7,1918

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

vmmmtoz J G ROUNTREE '1. a. ROUNTREE.

CATERPILLAR TRACTOR.

APPLlCATlON FILED 113.11. 1912'.

Patented May 7,1918.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

naw x4301 J. ROUNTKEE vy Z1024? J. G. ROUNTREE. CATERPILLAR TRACTOR.

APPLICATION men AUG. :1. m1.

Patented May 7, 1918.

3 HEETS-SHEET 3.

4IIIFIIILIIIJIIIJ J G-KOUNTKEE JOSEPH G. ROUNTBEE, 0F BEEVILLE, TEXAS.

CATERPILLAR-macros.

Specification of Letters Patent.

PatentiSdMavT; 191 H.

Application filed August 11, 1917. Serial No. 185,761.

To all whom z'tmay concern Be it known that JOSEPH G. ROUNTREE, acitizen of the United States, residin at Beeville, in the county of Beeand Texas, has invented certain new and usefiil Im rovements inCaterpillar-Tractors, of whic 1 the following is a specification,referonce being had to the accompanying drawm s.

his invention relates to tractors, such as are used for farm work, andparticularly to tractors of the cater illar type, wherein an endlesselement havlng tractive treads engages the ground and moves the machineforward. V

A general object of my invention is to provi e a tractor of this type inwhich the endless elementis driven by a driving member which is not disosed between the up er and lower flights o the endless element ut isdisposed above the endless element and engages therewith, thus liftingthe driving means out of a position where it will become cloggedwithrnud and dust.

Still another object is to provide means whereby the endless drivinelement, with its supporting wheels, will eforcedto engage the ground orroad with a force proportionate to the load which the tractor 'ispulling, so that if there is a relatively light load, the tractive forcewill be less than when there is ,a relatively heavy load.

Still another object is to provide manually operable meansior decreasingor increasin theengage'ment of the traotive elein'ent with the ground; li v Alida f 'her object is to improve the details of construction ofmachines of this type and to "provide means whereby the forward portionof the endlesselement with its supporting wheels may be raised so as topermit the tractor to be turned in a relatively short radius which isnot possible 'withthe panying. drawings, v wherein oater illar tractorsas at present constructed. Ot er objects will appear-in the course ofthe following-description.

My invention is illustrated in the, accom- Figure 1 is a side elevationof a tractor constructed inaccordanc e with my invention, the housingfilbein in section;

iFl 2 is a to plan view of the construction illustrated in Fig.- 1.

tate of.

Fig. 3 is a section; onlitheylinehll -lg gr 6 s- 4 i a n ary P 1 11sweater th endless element; Figs. 5, 6 and 7 are fragmqlitfllfyigliplqnjviews of various forms oftlrivmg gdrpngfiqy r the endless element. I 80Referring to the drawin S it, seen that the main frame oft etracian";con prises the longitudinally extendiri beanfi 10, which arespaced from eachi'ot erf'any desired distance and which .support iheinbi- B5 tor, which is of any usual or e' type.

Inasmuch as the motor, forms not art 'of my invention and as anysuitable molilbrhna be used, I have not described the motor an itsattachments or oonnectionsh 'l'h beams 70 10 are connected at theirlfprwardfehds liy a transverse cross bar 1 1,,u'pon whichf fare mountedthe steering wheelsi ln tiiiianfier tb be later described,Thesefsteerir'fgWvheels are designated 12'. a The 'Oj if braced fromeach other in njgrsuiasie ner, and mounted upon'th e'bea v i grassysuitable manner is a shaftfil3'lc'iii the gear wheels 14, this shaft lgbpeiiatively connected to the eiigihetdbe antenna thereb s Also mountedupenthefiggine formed by the beams 10 is a sh fitlz'i; iiic'h carriesthe relatively large ge rwiibels'"16,

thereby. The sha s 13 see 1'5"b themed? laterally beyond the beams'lio.so moun-ted upon the shaft 15 is the driir'ifidrmnl'i, as it maybetermed, which genes "l'y speaking has a plurality of mgresa extendinslats, lugs or bars wh chfines'" wannabe crawler as will be lateristatdT1 of toggle links 26. These links and 2d braces, I may provide anysuitable mech beneath the beams 18. The beams 18 may 'mounted upon theshaft 15. In all of these be connected at a plurality of points by caseshowever the teeth on the annuli of cross braces 24. It will beunderstood that the bars 39 in Fig. 2 mesh with the bars .the beams 18are vertically movable between 36 so that a rotation of the drum willcause 5 -the depending hangers 21. a progressive movement of the endlesstrac- Pivotally connected to the beams 10 are tive element. a pluralitof toggle links 25, which extend For the purpose of manually raising ordownwar and forward and pivotally conlowering the crawler supportingframe nectcd to the beams 18 are a like number formed by the bars '18and the transverse i and connected to the pivots of these links sectorgear 40 rotatably monnted'upolri aare the rearwardly extending draw bars28, port 41, this sector gear having an arm 42, these draw barspreferably extending rearin turn connected to a rod 43 which extends arepivotally connected to each other at 21 nism, but I have'shownforthispur- .1 5 ward and downward slightly and pivotally rearward to therear end of the tractor and connected to these draw bars are the upisconnected to a lever 44 operating over the wardly extending bars 29,pivoted at their rack 45 engaged therewith in the usual manupper ends tothe beams 10, pivoted at ner. This sector gear 40 coacts with a vertheirlower ends to the. draw bars 28 and tically disposed rack bar 46, whichin turn an provided with a plurality of perforations is connected at itslower end to thebeams 30 whereby various hitches may be made 18. Itwill, therefore, be seen that by operatbetween the implement beingpulled and ing the lever 44, the forward end of the the tractor. crawlersupporting frame may be raised or It will be noted that the pull onthese lowered and that by raising the forward end 25 bars 29 will causethe draw bars 28 to be of the frame formed by the bars 18, the

drawn rearward and thus cause the toggle crawler, composed of therollers 33 and the links 25 and 26' to force the forward ends endlesstractive element 34 will be raised of the vbeams downward. so that onlythe rear end of the tractive ele- Mounted upon the under faces of thement willengage the ground to thus permit 30 beams 18. are a pluralityof bearings 31, the machine to turn in a relatively short the frontbearings being adjustable along radius, which it jcould' not do ifotherwise the beams 18 in any suitable manner, so connected.

as to tighten up the crawler chain or end- For the purpose of steeringthe machine, less element. Mounted in the bearings 31 the wheels 12 aremounted upon knuckles 35 area pluralit of shafts 32, each of which 47ofany usual or suitable type, these carries a rol er or like element'33, these knuckles bein connected by a transverse rollers or likeelements being flanged at connecting ro 48 in turn operated by meanstheir peripheries, Disposed over these rollof a gear wheel and worm, theworm 49 beers, wheels or equivalent support is the ending attached tothe steering shaft 50 which 40 'less tractive element 34. This, asillustrated extends to the rear end of the machine and in Fig. 4comprises a plurality of links 35 is provided with the usual operatinghandle. having pivotal engagement with each other, Preferably thedrivingl gear wheels 14 and there bei an outer set of links and an in-16' willbe entirely inc osed in housings .51 nor set of inks andextendingfrom one pair Preferably the knuckles 47 are adjustably,

45. of links over to the other pair of links are mounted on the crossbeam 11 by means of the cross bars 36 having upturned ends 37, setcollars 52, engaging with transversely which are riveted between thelinks. and shiftable bearings 52. The rod 48 is prefhaving pivotalengagement therewith. I erably formed in three sections, the outer donot wish, to be limited, however, to this sections of the rod beingadjustably mounted ,50 particular method of constructing the endin amiddle tubular section 48*.

less tractive element or crawler chain. The operation. of this mechanismwill be The driving drum 11 may be of many plain from what has gonebefore. Under different forms. For instance, as illustrated ordinarycircumstances the wholelength of, in Fi 2, vit may comprise annuli 38'conthe tractor chain or endless element lies flat B5 necte by transversecrossbars 39 the; cross against the surface of the ground and -probarsbeing spaced from each 0t er so as pels the tractor. If desired,however, the to mesh with the bars 36 of the crawler forward portion ofthe endless elementmay chain or, as illustrated in Fig. 5, theremay' beraised so that on lly a portion of it enbe a plurality of annuli 17mounted upon gages the ground. he pull on the draw 60 the shaft, eachannulus being provided with bars 28 forces the forward portion of theoutwardly projecting teeth, or as shown in tractor down so as to thusincrease the trac- .Fig. 6, this member may consist of a solid tivepower proportionately to the load bedrum 17 mounted upon wheels atitsends ing drawn and the greater the load and re- 'and provided withteeth, or as in Fig. 7, "SlSliflIlCG, the greater the tractive power.

5 a plurality of spr k'et wheels 17" may be The use of toggle linksprovides for a very gre at forcebeing exerted upon the tractor V chitin.to fprce'it downward. Inasmuchas the rear roller' supporting the tractorchain 1," fied in'its relation to the driving wheel or: drum, it isobvious that the driving drum will always engage the up'perflight of thecrawler chain so as to cause a proper movement'of thecrawler chain. Atractor constrife-ted inaccordance with this invention is extremel,eflfective and it is obvious thatit has a wi e range of use. ;-It isalso obvious,

of course, that gearing may be provided whereby thesp'eed of the tractormay be increased'or decreased in the usual manner. I

have not illustrated this gearing as such gearing is obvious. It willalso be seen that while I fhaveillustrated a particular emhodiment ofmyinvention, yet the principle of the inventionmay be embodied in alarge variety of forms of tractors.

Having described my invention, what I claim is:

1 A tractor including a frame, a power driven tractive elementoperatively supported upon .the frame for movement in a vertical plane,a draw bar adapted to be connected to an object being drawn by thetractor, and toggle links pivoted to each other and to the main frameand operatively pivoted to the tractive element, said toggle linksacting when the draw bar, is relatively shifted rearward to move thetractive element downward in a vertical plane, A

2. A tractor including a main supporting frame, an auxiliary framedisposed below the main frame, said auxiliary frame being ivotallysupported at its rear end, an endless tra ctive element operativelymounted u on the 40 auxiliary frame, a pair of toggle lin pivoted to themain frame and to the auxiliary frame, and a draw bar connected to saidtoggle links and extending rearward there from, the toggle links beingarranged to supporting ,45 cause a depression of the forward end of theauxiliary frame when the draw bar is relatively retracted.

3. A tractor including a main frame, an

auxiliary frame mounted upon the main frame for vertical movement, anendless tractive element mounted upon the auxiliary frame, a memberoperatively pivoted to the bars of the main frame and movable in avertical plane, said element being opera- 1 tively connected to theauxiliary frame, and

a draw bar connected to said member and ex- .:nding rearward therefromto move said member downward in proportion to the draft on the draw barto thereby shift the auxiliary frame and tractor downward in proportionto said draft. v

4. A tractor comprising a main supporting frame, an endless tractiveelement operatively supported upon said frame and 1neluding transversebars spaced from each other, a driving member mounted upon-the mainframe and having transverselyex-- tending members eng'a ing' betweensaidbars on the upper flight o thetractive element, and means fordriving said member.

5. A tractor including a supporting frame, an auxiliary frame mountedbelow the supportin frame, an endless tractive element operativelymounted upon the auxiliary frame and having tending bars, a drivin wheelmounted upon the-main frame and aving lugs'engaging between the bars ofthe tractive element, and. means for driving said driving wheel.

6. A tractor comprising a main frame having steering wheels at itsforward end, an auxiliary frame mounted below the rear end of the mainframe, a plurality of rollers mounted upon the auxiliary frame, anendless tractive element passing over said rollers and havingtransversely spaced bars, a circular driving member mounted upon themain frame and having transversely extending lugs engaging between thebars of the endless driving element and upon the upper 9 flight thereof,a motor on the main frame, and means for transmitting the power of themotor to said driving member.

'7. A tractor comprising a main frame having steering wheels at itsforward end, an auxiliary frame disposed below the rear end of the mainframe and-'pivotally supported at its rear end, the forward portion ofthe auxiliary frame having vertical movement, a plurality of rollersmounted upon the auxiliary frame in horizontal alinement, a tractiveelement passing around said rollers and havin transversely extendingground engaging ars spaced from each other, a drum mounted upon the mainframe and having transversely extending members engaging between saidbars on t e upper flight of the tractive element, motor operated meansfor driving said drum, a U-shaped yoke mounted upon 'the main framedepend-' ing therefrom and receivin the forward end of the auxiliaryframe, an means for vertically shifting the forward end of the auxiliaryframe.

8. A tractor comprising a main frame having steering wheels at itsforward end, an auxiliary frame disposed below the rear end of the mainframe and pivotally supported at its rear end, the forward portion ofthe auxilia frame having vertical movement, a plura ity of rollersmounted upon the auxiliary frame in horizontal alinement, a tractiveelement passing around said rollers and having transversely extendingground engaging bars spaced from each other, a drum mounted upon themain frame and having transversely extending members engagin betweensaid bars on the upper flight o the tractive element, motor operatedmeans for driving said drum, a U- spaced transversely ex- 75 shaped yokemounted upon the main frame and and disposed below the main frame anddependinag therefrom and receiving the for-' comprising spaced parallelbeams, a

ward on of the auxiliary frame, means for ralityof'rollers mounted uponthe auxiliary vertically shifting the forward end of the frame, anendless transversely slatted eleauxiliary frame said means including a'ment mounted upkpn said rollers and constimanually operable leveroperatively contuting a driver, are extending down from nected to theforward end of the auxiliary the main frame and connected at their lowerframe to raise or lower it, and a draft con ends b a cross bar andreceiving between nection operatively connected to the forthem t e lowerend of an auxiliary frame, ward end of the auxiliary frame to raisetoggle links pivoted to each other and pivor lower it in proportion tothe draft on otally connected to the main frame and the the tractor.auxiliary frame at the forward end of the,

9 A tractor including a main frame havlatter, a raft bar connected tothe adjacent ing steering wheels at its forward end, a pivoted endsofthe toggle links and extendmotor mounted on the main frame, an mgrearward therefrom, a horizontal ro auxiliary frame pivotally supportedat its connected to said draft bar and havin errear end and disposedbelow the main frame forations providing for a plurality of into es, andcomprisin spaced parallel beams, a means on the main frame for drivingthe lurality of rollers mounted upon the auxi endless element, manuallyoperable means iary frame, an endlesstransversely slatte for raising orlowering the forward end element mounted upon said rollers and conof theauxiliary frame, said means institutinga driver,bars extending down fromeluding a vertically disposed rack on the main frame and connected attheir lower the auxiliary frame at its forward end, ends b a cross barand receiving between a sector gear engaging the rack, a lever them t elower end of an auxiliary frame, )ivoted on the mam frame, and aconnection to le links pivoted to each other an pivetween the sectorgear and said lever. ota ly connected to the main frame an the 11. Atractor comprising a main supportauxiliary frame at the forward end ofthe ing frame, a tractive element operative y latter, a draft barconnected to the adjacent supported upon said frame and includingpivoted ends of the to gle links and extransverse bars spaced from eachother, a tending rearward there rom, a horizontal driving member mountedupon thesupportrod connectedto said draft bar and having mg frameaandhaving transversely exten )erforations providing for .a plurality of ingmembers engaging between said bars,

hitches, means on the mam frame for drivand means for driving saiddriving member.

' in v the endless element, and manuall oper- In testimony whereof Ihereunto affix my ab e means for raising or lowering t e forsignature inthe presence of two witnesses.

ward end of the auxiliary frame.

10. A tractor including a main frame hav- JOSEPH ROUNTREE' ing steering.wheels at its forward end, a Witnesses:

' 40 motor mounted on the mainframe, an aux- B BARRY,

iliary frame pivotally supported at its rear MILLER.

